Dunston UTS

Dunston UTS Football Club

The History

The club first saw light of day in 1975 as a humble works outfit. The previous club chairman,John Thompson, with some of his fellow workmates at Her Majesty’s Stationery Office in Gateshead decided to form a football team and joined the Newcastle City Amateur League. Early success inspired John to develop the club and it moved to a new base. The Bay Horse Public in Whickham the club name was changed to Whickham Sports F.C. Playing on a public park in Dunston, the club entered the Northern Alliance League.

Numerous successes followed at this level including League Championship and League Cup Wins. In 1980 the club joined the Northern Combination League. Further League and cup success followed and a move to a base nearer to the home ground seemed logical, the club then moved to a new base at the Dunston Mechanics Social Club and the team became known as Dunston Mechanics F.C. As the club became more ambitious a piece of land in the locality was leased from Gateshead MBC and the committee began to develop what is now known as The UTS Stadium.

At this stage an approach was made to the Federation Brewery for sponsorship to assist in the progress of the club. When they kindly agreed to become the club’s main sponsors, the club name was changed to Dunston Federation Brewery F.C in 1987. After finishing as League Champions and League Cup Winners in 1987 the club left the Northern Combination League and joined the Wearside League – being League Champions twice and League Cup Winners once – the club felt a need to seek new opportunities and an application was made
to join the prestigious Northern League.

During the time in the Wearside League, the club had made considerable improvements to Federation Park with progress to a higher status of football in mind and their application was successful. The club had now realised one of its main ambitions and so entered the National Pyramid of Non League Football in 1991. In its second season in the Northern League club won the Second Division title and was promoted to the First Division. That season also saw reach the last eight of the National FA Vase competition- the furthest they have ever reached in the competition.

The club is now an established Northern League Club having won the League Challenge Cup three years in succession from 1998 to 2000, they also won the J.R Cleator Cup the (Charity Shield) in 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. Season 2003-04 was one to remember when the club won the Northern League Championship for the first time and also lifted the League Challenge Cup. They also reached the final qualifying round of the FA Cup – the furthest they have ever reached in that competition.

After such a magnificent season in 2003/04 the club went one better the following season they repeated the Northern League Championship and Challenge Cup double and also lifted the J.R Cleator Cup once more. In 2009 having been without a main sponsor for the previous three seasons Mr. Shaun Sadler of UTS Engineering, Jarrow, kindly agreed to provide a generous sponsorship package and it was agreed the club be known as Dunston UTS Football Club and the ground name changed from Federation Park to UTS Stadium.

Over the years the club has always recognised that success on the field must be coupled with success and hard work behind the scenes. The efforts of the management committee and ground staff at the UTS Stadium have ensured that the ground is a credit to the club. Many of the back room staff at the club have been involved since it was founded in 1975, some as former players and others as management members on the playing side. It is a tribute to their commitment and hard work that the club has become one of the most
successful and respected in the North East.

ANDREW CLARK (Goalkeeper) Returned two seasons ago for his second spell with the club having transferred from South Shields

LIAM CONNELL (Goalkeeper) Third season with club after previously playing for Gateshead, Durham City and Crook Town.

JACK BURNS (Defender) Fifth Season with club. Signed from Gateshead Redheugh Boys where he gained Durham County honours.

LEE BELL (Defender) Third season at club signed from Morpeth Town where he had several successful seasons. Previous clubs include Whitley Bay and Newcastle Benfield.

BEN CATTANACH (Defender) Third spell at the club. Rejoined after playing for Greystones in Dublin and previously spent three seasons at Gateshead AFC
MICHAEL ROBSON (Defender) In his eighth season at Dunston joined from Spennymoor Town. Previously with Marske and Whity Town.

DENVER MORRIS (Midfield) First season at club, joining from Harefield Utd who play in the Spartan South Midlands League.

STEVEN SHAW (Midfield) First season at club joined from Ashington AFC, previous clubs Bedlington and Ryton.

MICHAEL DIXON (Midfield) Signed from West Allotment Celtic and in his fourth spell at the club. Previously with Newcastle Benfield.

STEVEN PICKERING (Midfield) Tenth season at with the club, signed from Spennymoor previously clubs include Sunderland and Tow Law Town, where he played in the FA Vase Final at Wembley.

KANE YOUNG (Midfield) Tenth season at the club after signing from Gretna.

LEE McANDREW (Midfield) Second season at Dunston signed from West Allotment Celtic

TERRY GALBRAITH (Midfield) Second season with the club after playing a season in the Northern Alliance with Blyth Town. Formerly with Redheugh Boys Club where he featured in three FA Youth Cup runs.

ANTHONY HUME (Forward) First season at club. Joined from Stokesley.

IAN HERRON (Midfield) Joined the club last season from Blyth Town. Very experienced playmaker, previous clubs include Ashington and Morpeth Town.

ANTHONY HUME (Forward) First season at the club. Joined from Stokesley; previous clubs include Blyth Spartans and Horden CW.

BRAD BROOKING (Midfield) First season at club after playing for Brisbane Athletic. Also played for Newcastle Benfield and Washington.

STEPHEN GODDARD (Forward) Second season at club after moving to the North East from London. Had a very successful spell with Chertsey Town after a spell at Kingstonian AFC.

ANDREW BULFORD (Forward) In his fourth season at the club after playing for Ryton FC. Previous clubs include Sunderland Nissan. Top goal scorer for the last three seasons.

CHRIS SWAILES (Forward) Ex-professional who joined this season from Blyth Spartans. Previous clubs include Bury, Ipswich, Rotherham, Gateshead and Hamilton.

MICHAEL HEPPLEWHITE (Forward) Second season at club. Signed from Sunderland RCA, a striker who puts in every effort to succeed.

STEVEN PREEN (Forward) Sixth season with the club. Joined from Bedlington Terriers and previously with Blyth Spartans and Gateshead.

BILLY IRWIN (Manager) Fourteenth season with club signed from Durham City. Distinguished Ex-Club captain who has spent four seasons as part of the Management Team.

Like this:

One Response to Dunston UTS

hi my name is mick o hagan im currently doing a sports massage and therapy course at newcastle college i would love to gain some experience working with andrew your sports therapist ive got my own table oils towels etc i was a good friend of matty annan he was my inspiration to be a sports therapist and i would love to help out at dunston please let me know if i can be of any assistance thank you